Could the clash have really played MSG?

[Guest1]

I vaguely remember something to the affect that during the Sandinista era, the clash could have booked a night at msg but chose to do the Bonds residency instead. Similarly they could have played wembley, but chose to a 4 nights at the Lyceum instead. How true is this?

[matedog]

I vaguely remember something to the affect that during the Sandinista era, the clash could have booked a night at msg but chose to do the Bonds residency instead. Similarly they could have played wembley, but chose to a 4 nights at the Lyceum instead. How true is this?

I wonder what the biggest venue they ever headlined. US Festival kinda counts, but it's a festival so that isn't exactly apples to apples. Obviously opening The Who stadium shows. Combat Rock was probably the height of their popularity at least in the US. Even the non-Who shows were pretty standard college town auditorium type venues, so MSG seems unlikely.

[Guest1]

I vaguely remember something to the affect that during the Sandinista era, the clash could have booked a night at msg but chose to do the Bonds residency instead. Similarly they could have played wembley, but chose to a 4 nights at the Lyceum instead. How true is this?

I wonder what the biggest venue they ever headlined. US Festival kinda counts, but it's a festival so that isn't exactly apples to apples. Obviously opening The Who stadium shows. Combat Rock was probably the height of their popularity at least in the US. Even the non-Who shows were pretty standard college town auditorium type venues, so MSG seems unlikely.

I think they actually managed a few arena type shows during the CTC era. I know for a fact they played the DCU center in Worcester ma in 1984. That’s like 12k capacity I think.

[Guest1]

Scratch that I just looked it up. 15k

[Heston]

They played Red Rocks, is that not huge?

[Guest1]

They also did five nights at the cape cod collesium back in 82.
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-clas ... f03f7.html
That had around 7k capacity. Not bad.

[Guest1]

They played Red Rocks, is that not huge?

9,000 capacity. That’s pretty big. They played twice actually, 1982 and 84’ if I’m not mistaken.

[YoungParisians]

They did quite a few university arenas so those were probably around 10K caps.

I wish I was old enough to see them back in summer 82. They played 13 dates all within 4 hour drive of my hometown (Boston). Damn!

[matedog]

MSG capacity was 20K. They did two nights at Pier 84 in 82. BMC says capacity was 24K, but I can't confirm that elsewhere. Regardless, MSG sounds feasible at least in 82.

[Guest1]

MSG capacity was 20K. They did two nights at Pier 84 in 82. BMC says capacity was 24K, but I can't confirm that elsewhere. Regardless, MSG sounds feasible at least in 82.

Believe it or not MSG is actually one of the easier arenas to sellout. I believe due to being in NYC there’s a much larger potential ticket drawer than say futtbuck motorsport arena in Nebraska somewhere. You also get travelers from neighboring cities like Boston, Philly, and Baltimore. LCD sound system managed to sellout MSG, as did X Japan. X Japan is literally cult status over here, being from Japan, and never playing a stateside gig before. Other relatively obscure foreign acts have also managed the feat such as Gackt and L’ Arc En Ciel. Also from what I’ve noticed, and this is probably a huge generalization, folks from the big metropolitan cities seem to be more into the artsier alternative side of music than country folk. This has certainly eroded a bit with the advent of the internet, but still kind of holds true.

[YoungParisians]

They also did five nights at the cape cod collesium back in 82.
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-clas ... f03f7.html
That had around 7k capacity. Not bad.

Here's a photoset of the Clash in 82: https://roccosphototavern.photoshelter. ... H5dO1zORAg


and a pic of the Colliseum back in the day

16938953_10210834477835232_6280296930312093220_n.jpg (65.35 KiB) Viewed 1637 times

[Guest1]

They also did five nights at the cape cod collesium back in 82.
https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/the-clas ... f03f7.html
That had around 7k capacity. Not bad.

Here's a photoset of the Clash in 82: https://roccosphototavern.photoshelter. ... H5dO1zORAg


and a pic of the Colliseum back in the day
16938953_10210834477835232_6280296930312093220_n.jpg

That’s a cool looking venue to be honest. Just found some more info online. Supposedly it’s a distribution warehouse these days.